No question mariachi suit fit for prince
Hubertus von Hohenlohe isn’t going to win a medal in men’s slalom skiing next month at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
No way, no chance.
He is favored to be the best dressed athlete at the Games.
Von Hohenlohe, who will represent Mexico, told NBC on Monday that he will wear a mariachi-themed race suit when he skis down the Rosa Khutor. The skin-tight suit, designed by Kappa, features the trimmings of a black bolero jacket, a ruffled tuxedo shirt, a red tie and cummerbund, and designs down the legs surrounding the initials “MEX.”
Think of it as Three Amigos on skis.
His is a tale of the European jet-set, but that takes nothing away from his apparent true love for competing in the Winter Games.
This will be the sixth, and likely last, appearance in the Olympics for von Hohenlohe.
“This dream kind of always expanded and now it’s become a test for nature, to see how far I can go,” von Hohenlohe, 54, told nbcolympics.com. “It’s always challenging and always interesting to kind of observe yourself and whether you can make it or not.”
If he had never strapped on a set of skis - and apparently few from Mexico have, as the country fields a tiny team for the Winter Games - von Hohenlohe would already have been an interesting fellow.
He is a prince of German descent, not to mention a world-class photographer. He is also fluent in five languages, a professional musician - performing as Andy Himalaya and Royal Disaster - and is an heir to the Fiat automobile fortune.
He was born in Mexico and lived there four years before moving to Spain and later studied in Austria. He spends only a few weeks a year in Mexico - in Cabo San Lucas, no surprise there - and he currently resides in Liechtenstein.
Von Hohenlohe founded the Mexican Ski Federation in 1981 and first competed for Mexico in the Olympics at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, in 1984. Since 1982, he has competed in a record 15 world championships.
His penchant for flamboyant uniform designs is well-known in the sport. At the Vancouver Games in 2010, he wore a “Mexicano desperado” race suit, complete with bullet straps and pistoleros in the design, and another environmentally-themed suit that encouraged recycling.
In Sochi, however, he said he hopes to celebrate Mexican culture on the slopes.
“Until I went to Mexico recently to make a documentary, I never realized what a beautiful, amazing, rich past and culture they have and what a proud people they are,” he said. “It actually moved me to see how much they suffered and how much they fought for what they have.
“The power to have your own identity is so strong and something I believe in, so I want to give it a go in a very cool, elegant way. I want to celebrate who they are, but of course in my own style.”No idea
NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on Twitter after the French helmeted duo Daft Punk won the Grammy for Album of the Year for “Random Access Memories” on Monday night:
“Some Star Wars things, a safari guide and bob Marley jus won an album of the year. Maybe I could one day #justsaying”
To which Stenhouse’s girlfriend, NASCAR competitor Danica Patrick, replied: “I hear ya babe.... But u did say “who is that” when Madonna walked on stage.”
Stenhouse ended the thread with a final reply, “#neverheardofhim.”
Quote of the day
“Kids are being ruined with praise the same as criticism.” Tulsa Coach Danny Manning on the importance of being honest with recruits
Sports, Pages 20 on 01/29/2014